Heat adaptation in pigs : phenotypes, genotypes & blood transcriptomics in the PigHeaT program

Heat wave frequency is increasing due to global warming, resulting in consequential impacts on agricultural production systems. In temperate production pigs, heat waves reduce production performances and cause animal discomforts. Improving heat resistance in pigs is therefore needed to mitigate the effects of global warming. Caribbean Creole pigs are well adapted to tropical climate, but show low production values, the exact opposite of Large White pigs. Animals from a back-cross of Large White and Creole pigs were raised in experimental units of INRA in both tropical and temperate climate. Animals in temperate climate were further challenged with a three weeks-long artificial heat wave. Production traits and thermo-regulatory responses were recorded and associated with their genotypes. Blood samples of a subset of animals were used for metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses in both environments, and throughout the induced heat stress (N=180 per conditions)